Toggle actuated hand clamp with release trigger



March 5, 1957 L. F. BLATT ETAL TOGGLE ACTUATED HAND CLAMP WITH RELEASE TRIGGER Filed Jan. 26, 1955 INVEXTORS.

AM LR V. 8% E N F5. /R as fm WM A sw LR v. f B y W u AWM w|\ N d .Q NIT NM. 0W MM N mul 0N W` a@ N QN WN \\N Mw J n /A /f NNJ/ .N Nm m. \om, *N Q y ,/\|rl// Q \/P4lfr\\l\\ A] 3%, YM. Mnlm, LWN um f l LAS/, w IIH|| QM bm. \QM\VH T J W Q` N Nm. Mm@ NN i@ L, l da@ mm A Y NWN \N- M u mN v fm@ oN United States Patent 2,783,797 'TOGG'LE ACTUATED WITH RELEASE TRIGGER Leland F. Blatt, Grosse Pointe Woods, and Arthur E. Sherman, Detroit, Mich.

Application January 26, 1'9"'ss,serialNo. 4sa,114

z claims. (ci. hr4-302) This invention relates to a portable hand clamp, and more particularly to a trigger release mechanism in conjunction with the hand clamp.

Here'tofore, in hand clamp constructions of this type, upon a clamping action of a clamp, -the two jaws are brought into compressive and tight engagement with an object to be clamped. In order to release the saidhclamp it' has been necessary to use both hands to manually pry apart the said handles.

It is the object of the present invention` to provide a trigger release mechanism whereby the clamp may be released with one hand by so actuating the said trigger as to effect an initial spreading apart of the said handles.

It is the further object of the presen-t invention to provide a trigger release device between the said handles which is pivotally mounted between the said handles and supported at the pivotal connection between the handles and with the trigger mechanism having an operating cam adapted to apply a camming pressure to one of the said handles for eiecting an initial separation thereof and a release of the clamp jaws.

These and other objects will be seen from the following specification and claims in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the present portable hand clamp.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the clamp shown in Fig. 1.

ItV will be understood that the above drawing illustrates merely a preferred embodiment of the invention and that other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the claims hereafter set forth.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. l and 3, the present portable hand clamp comprises a pair of opposed elongated jaws 11 and 12 of substantially symmetrical form. Jaw 11 terminates at one end in the upright boss 13 which is transversely apertured throughout its height and interiorally threaded as at 17. Said boss is normally spaced from and in substantial alignment with a second boss 14 at the corresponding one end of jaw 12, boss 14 having a flat inner surface 16 defining a supporting anvil.

The upright spindle 18 in the nature of a threaded bolt is threadedly projected through boss 13 in the desired position of adjustment and secured in such position of adjustment by the lock nut 20. The head 19 of said bolt is adapted to operatively engage the object which is to be clamped in cooperation with anvil 16. The said jaws 11 and 12 are formed with transverse webbing 15 for reinforcing the same.

The bosses 13 and 14 of the said jaws are dened herein as being at one of the ends of the said elongated jaws 11 and 12. The other ends of the said jaws are arranged in overlapping registry and are transversely apertured to receive the interconnecting rivet 25 which serves as the pivotal connection between the said jaws. The ends of the said jaws 11 and 12 corresponding to this pivotal ice eennec'tion include the curved portions 21 at the of th'e said jaws, which portions terminate in theohtral overlapping plate formations 22, throug"h which v'thesaid rivet 2 5 cooperatively extends. The central overlapping plate formations 22 of each of the said jaws terminate in the 'wall portions 24 which denne the inner opposed edge portions of the said jaws 11v and `12 d Each of the said jaws y11 and A12 at their one ends adjacent the formed portions 21 have transverse apertures v26 in substantial vertical alignment wherebycach of the said jaws may be pivotally connected with -its corresponding operating handles 27 and 28, respectively, as bythe rivets 33 and 34. u

The formation of each of the handles is thesame, said handles being symmetrical and in opposed relation.v Said handles include the forwardly arranged curved portion 29 dening the ends of said handles adjacent the pivots -33 and -34 therefor. Said ends 29 are arranged in overlapping registry and are curved as at 30 varound the centra-l overlapping portions of the said handles; whi'eli portions are transversely apertured to receive the riv'et 35 by which the handles 27 and 28 are pivotally interconnected. 5

The curved portions 30 of each of the said handles terminate in the opposed outwardly diverging cam suifaces 31, which in turn, blend with the inner wall por'L tions 32 of the opposing handles 27 and 28.

Thus, as Vshown in Fig. 1, jaw 11`is rearwardly of'th' overlapping :jaw 12 at their pivotal connection 25'. front end portion of handle 27 as it i's pivotally mounted upon jaw 11 is arranged forwardly of said ja'wfand at the same time overlaps the front end portion of handle 28, which front end portion of said latter handle 28 is positioned under the overlapping rear portion of jaw 12 to thereby complete the clamp construction.

The pivotal connection between the said jaws themselves as at 25, the pivotal connection between the handles and the respective jaws as at 33 and 34, and the pivotal connection between the two handles as at 35 are substantially conventional constructions.

The important part of the present invention pertains to therelease of manuallyoperable trigger 33 which is arranged between the two handles 27 and 28 and can be actuated by the same hand which grasps both of the said handles for eiecting a release of the clamp and its jaws from a clamped position.

For this purpose there are provided uponopposite sides of the said handles Va pair of parallel spaced elon gated trigger mounting plates 36. Said plates are pivotally mounted at their forward ends to the pivotal connection 35 between handles 27 and 28 as by the rivet 35.

Transversely arranged pin 37 interconnects the opposite ends of plates 36 and is positioned between handles 27 and 28. Trigger 38 intermediate its ends and towards its forward end is pivotally mounted upon the said pin 37 between plates 36.

The forward portion of trigger 38 as at 39 is in the nature of a converging cam element which is positioned between the forward portions 31 or cam surfaces of the said handles and is ladapted to operatively engage either of the said cam surfaces for initially prying apart the handles 27 and 28 from -a clamping position.

yIn this connection the pin 37 supported by plates 36 will be fulcrumed upon and against one of the cam surfaces 31, and the cam element 39 forming a part of said trigger will operatively engage the cam surface of the other handle to thereby forcefully pry or spread apart handles 27 and 28 to thereby effect a release of the jaws 11 and 12.

The specific mounting of Itrigger 38 on pin 37 between the free ends of mounting plates 36 has several important advantages. In the rst place this arrangement of the a 3 trigger provides for a mounting of the trigger as Well as the' opposite' ends of plates 36 upon the same pivot 35 which interconnects the handles 2'7 and 28. the inner surface of both handles are providedwith cam surfaces 3i, and due to the specific location of the cam 39, fthetriggei' may be operated in either direction for effecting a release of the clamp. In this construction the free ends of plates 36 are interconnected by a central "pivot pin 37, which may be alternately fulcrurned against 4either handle27 or 28. Accordingly the cam 39 will op; cratively engage the earn surface 31 on the other handle.

The advantage resides in the fact that regardless of the position of the hand clamp, the squeezing of one handle and the trigger towards the same, effects a release. If the trigger were operable only in one direction and if the clamp were upside down, the squeezing of the trigger would not effect a release. The present speciiic mount ing for the trigger thus assures that the clamp will be releasedV regardless of its position.

f vrPhe present construction also centrally positions thc trigger between both handles, so that it .is not mounted merely upon one and accordingly provides for a sym` metrical construction with particular ease otassembly.

Having described our invention, reference should now be had to the claims which follow for determining the scope thereof.

We claim:

1. A portable clamp comprising a pair of opposed elongated jaws pivotally connected at their one ends, a pair of opposed handles pivotally interconnected at their one ends and each handle, respectively, pivoted at said one ends to one of said jaws at their one ends, and an elongated trigger interposed between said handles and pivotally connected intermediate its ends to and adjacent the said one ends of said handles, said` trigger having a short cam arm at its free end arranged between said inasmuch as operative engagement therewith for releasing said handles and 'jaws from a clamped position, the pivotal mounting of said trigger including a pair of parallel spaced elongated plates upon opposite sides of said handles pivotally joined at their one ends to the pivotal connection between said handles and pivotally joined at their other ends to said trigger intermediate its ends.

2. A portable clamp comprising a pair of opposed clongated'jaws pivotally connected at vtheir one ends, a pair of opposed handles pivotally interconnected at their one ends and each handle, respectively, pivoted at said one ends to one of said jaws at their one ends, and an elongated trigger interposed between said handlesand pivotally connected intermediate its ends to and adjacent the said one ends 'of said handles, said trigger having a short cam arm at its free end arranged between said handles adjacent their one ends and adapted for selective operative engagement therewith for releasing said handles and jaws from a clamped position, the pivotal mount,- ing of said trigger including a pair of parallel spaced elonv gated plates upon opposite sides of said handles pivotally joined at their one ends to the pivotal connection between said handles, a pin interconnecting the other ends of said plates positionableA transversely of and between said handles and adapted for fulcruming engagement with one of said handles, said trigger being pivotally mounted upon said pin.

References Cited in the file of this'patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,453,041 Sharpv NOV. 2, 1948 2,501,238 Y Sarsgard et al Mar. 2l, 1950 2,502,804 Spencer Apr. 4, 1950 2,574,676 Waterbury Nov. 13, 1951 2,664,774 Harvie Ian. 5. 1954 

